Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Jan 8, 2026

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Punggol’s first self-driving shuttle to start serving public within 3 months

The shuttles on the first route have clocked more than 10,000km safely without incident.

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S’pore interest rates could bottom out in Q2 of 2026: UOB

SORA could bottom at around 1 per cent before heading towards 1.39 per cent by the end of 2026.

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Alleged scam kingpin Chen Zhi arrested, deported to China

Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior confirmed it revoked his citizenship last month.

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US seizes Venezuela-linked, Russian-flagged oil tanker after weeks-long pursuit

The tanker was at the centre of a dramatic sea chase across the ocean since December 2025.

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Uncertainty, cautious optimism for Venezuelans in S’pore after Maduro’s capture

Some are wondering if there will be follow-up operations to detain Maduro loyalists.

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Woman challenging police’s decision ordered to deposit $15k for potential legal costs

Her challenge has no reasonable prospect of success, says court’s assistant registrar.

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NETS warns public against scam e-mails asking for outstanding parking payment

NETS said it will never request personal or financial information via e-mail.

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When adults step back, kids learn to bounce back

Resilience isn’t taught, it’s learnt and built through everyday frictions.

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One hip-hop dance audition video, and a shot at K-pop

Singaporean Nicole Bacon was accepted in under three days and is now part of a rookie K-pop girl group.

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Jail for woman who drove without licence, had more than 90 Kpods in car

She told the authorities that the Kpods were for her own consumption.

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